Happier Habits
Programme
Mattering more in your own midlife
Week Six -
Self-investment
Hello and welcome to Week Six of your Happier Habits programme! Congratulations on investing in yourself already over these last few weeks.
Below is a short video to explain this final week's theme, the download for the PlaySheet and the guidance for this week. Any questions just get in touch on the WhatsApp group or by email. Cheers!
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with this one wild and precious life?”
Mary Oliver, poet, legend.
Week 6 -Self-investment
Becoming
One thing I hope this Happier Habits Programme has shown you is that you are a glorious work in progress. That life is in perpetual motion and what is true today, may not be the same tomorrow.
By building a dynamic, relationship with yourself you are harnessing all of your life experiences and learnings, investing in a happier today and all your future selves. You are never done becoming. And self-investment is not about money necessarily, but about investing in that becoming, daily.
It means not striving to be get somewhere, or waiting for the time when you're thinner, divorced, met someone, got your shit together. It means investing energy, thought, time, curiosity, attention, intention, every day on who you are, how you are, where you are, where you are heading, and what you need and want. It's getting off default mode at least some of the time, and embracing your life with agency and attitude. It's committing and investing the time to check in every day, be proactive in how you want to feel, consciously ensuring the things that bring back your mood, or make you feel more alive or connected to yourself happen, being intentional about your actions, and reflecting on your progress, your reactions and responses. It's about remembering that you are not in fact, a human doing, but a human being.
Your North Star
There is so much white noise around you, all those dramas and external demands and expectations, all those curveballs and daily disruptions, all those tornados of thoughts and worries that swirl around your brain. It's a lot. So you need to have a North Star to keep you on the path you want to be on. A North Star that shows you when you may need to change path, get new walking shoes, take a rest, admire the view. Over the last few weeks you have turned the light - the one you often shine so brightly on others - on yourself. You have reconnected to that vital relationship with yourself, invested some thought and energy on who she is now, and how she wants to live. Your North Star will keep her on the right track when that noise becomes overwhelming or distracting. It is unique to you. It is your Warrior Woman Rally cry! It is your GPS, your reminder when you feel deflated, you energy booster, your comfort that you are in motion.
Miracle Question
In the PlaySheet, establish where you are right now and then answer the 'miracle question.' If you could wake up in 6 months, or a year, (or even three years) and a miracle has happened and you were feeling the way you wanted to feel, and living the life you want to be living (given the actual context of your life so you can't be winning the lottery!) what would be happening, what would changed? How would you feel? This could be a series of things eg I will have come to terms with something, I will have better knowledge about something, I feel better supported, etc. This in itself gives you a springboard for small actions eg therapy, research, new doctor, negotiated better supports at work etc
Your Midlife Mantra
In the PlaySheet, write out a Midlife Mantra that will keep you motivated, focussed on the direction you want, and create an anchor for the future. Because life will come with lots of white noise and lots of curveballs (and lots of opportunities) and this will be your North Star.
This can be a statement, a paragraph, a warrior cry, a letter to yourself, an essay or a few words.
It is your promise and guidance to yourself, to be your best champion, to steer you with intention and investment in yourself to the place you want to go and the way you want your life to feel. It is your GPS, your guiding light, your vision and mission. It can’t just be a destination, but a proactive empowering motivation for when the shit hits the fan and when the sun shines, so always mattering more in your own midlife.
Enjoy! I hope to see you on Thursday…
- I'll be explaining a little more how you continually invest in yourself
- We'll be sharing our Midlife Mantras
- We will say farewell but not goodbye
I'll also be answering and questions you have!